How Much Is A 1982 Penny Worth?
Values for the 1982 cent run from about face value–$0.25 (Common combinations, circulated) to $10,000+ (1982-D Small Date bronze (error)). Here is what separates the bottom of that range from the top — and how to find out where your coin lands.
History of the 1982 Penny
In 1982 rising copper prices forced the Mint to switch the cent from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc mid-year — while also modifying the date size on the dies. The result is seven regular combinations of composition, mint and date size, making 1982 the most complicated year in Lincoln cent history.
The eighth combination is the star: the 1982-D Small Date in bronze was never supposed to exist, because Denver reportedly struck only zinc cents with the small date. A handful have been discovered since 2016, selling for five figures at auction.
The 1982 cent was struck in 1982, a transition year in bronze early in the year, copper-plated zinc afterwards. Production took place at Philadelphia and Denver.
How much is a 1982 cent worth?
Condition drives everything in numismatics. A heavily worn 1982 cent and a pristine one can differ in price by a factor of ten or more, so treat the figures below as broad retail ranges for problem-free coins rather than fixed quotes.
For a market check, recent sold results for the same coin in the same grade beat out-of-date price guides every time. AI Coin Collector shows the Numista catalogue price per grade for every coin it recognizes: a reference point, not a sale price or an offer.
- Common combinations, circulated: face value–$0.25
- Uncirculated red examples: $1–$10
- 1982-D Small Date bronze (error): $10,000+
How to identify a genuine 1982 Penny
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the 1982 cent, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- Weigh the coin: bronze cents weigh 3.11 grams, zinc cents 2.50 grams — a kitchen scale accurate to 0.01 g settles it.
- Small Date: the 2 has a flat, straight base and the 8 has equal-size loops; Large Date digits are bolder with a curled 2.
- A 1982-D Small Date weighing 3.11 grams is a potential five-figure discovery — get it authenticated.
Check your 1982 cent with AI Coin Collector
Instead of squinting at grainy auction photos, snap a picture with AI Coin Collector. Our own AI vision model suggests the type for you to confirm, the app estimates a Sheldon-scale grade from 1 to 70, and you see the Numista catalogue price per grade.
From there you can add the coin to a collection, see the collection’s total value and export it to CSV. The app is free to start and comes to Android first.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 1982 cent worth?
Broadly, examples at the bottom of the market (Common combinations, circulated) trade around face value–$0.25, while the strongest pieces (1982-D Small Date bronze (error)) bring $10,000+. Grade, rarity and eye appeal decide where a specific coin lands, and problem-free coins always bring the best prices.
How can I tell if my 1982 cent is genuine?
Start with the physical basics: weigh the coin: bronze cents weigh 3.11 grams, zinc cents 2.50 grams — a kitchen scale accurate to 0.01 g settles it. Counterfeits usually fail on weight, dimensions or fine die details, so compare your coin against verified reference photos before paying a premium.
Can an app identify and value my 1982 cent?
Yes. AI Coin Collector suggests an identification from a single photo using our own AI vision model — you check and adjust it — estimates a Sheldon grade from 1 to 70, and shows the Numista catalogue price per grade.